what is beautiful?

oh that is so subjective. really it is. i just had a fit about kids toys and focusing on how you look, or what you wear. today i had a conversation with my daughter (3) who came downstairs asking "is this beautiful? do i look beautiful?" my response was (and she's used to this): "the orange and the green compliment each other nicely, all those colors together make it look like you are ready for some fun!"  after that i looked her in the eyes and told her, "you are beautiful always because your heart is beautiful. so any colors or clothing you put on looks beautiful because your heart is under there" her response to that, "oh yea, and i'm strong and smart too!" oh shiva h vishnu yes! yes! ok cool, great! today i am contributing to the next generation feeling beautiful inside. awesome.

but what about us? who grew up with more cynicism, less confidence bestowed upon us? those of us who grew up wanting to be looked in the eye, who learned to hide certain aspects, not be proud... madonna says it best.... and what about the fact that it really is ok to feel beautiful? what about embracing who we are and starting to love it? what about that? because people really are beautiful, the human form is amazing. have you ever seen the light and shadow of where the upper arm meets the lower arm, not the elbow but the inside? have you really seen it? how about the back of an ankle? i have, i can stare there for an hour. it will distract me from our conversation, from whatever i am doing. i tried to watch the broadway musical 'chicago' i couldn't focus; i was engrossed in watching those amazing women and their muscles. i can't coherently speak when sun is shining on tree leaves... amy knows this; we are artists and we know it. it lives in us screaming to get out, to share this beauty with the world.

amy recently started her own photography business, soulshine imagery. she does all sorts of art photography; still life, landscape, portraits.... she has an amazing eye and talent. something she is passionate about in her life and her art (are those ever separate?) is she wants to show us what we might not see about ourselves, that we are beautiful. i won her contest for a portrait session; project soulshine::tara. i won more then that; i got to meet and hang out with a kindred spirt for a glorious afternoon, my soul was surely shining. i "met" amy reading her blog. in may of 2010 amy did a month long series: in celebration of mothers, it had a profound effect on me. her thoughts, ideas, existence, is tied to mine in cosmic ways i can not explain but am grateful for. so here you are, here is amy's view of what is beautiful about me. thank you amy, thank you very much.

this moment

THIS moment was made possible by amy. who's blog had a raffle, and i won! i won a lot more then having my portrait taken, amy and i have been cyber friends for awhile and we finally got to meet, it was a cosmic, cool, happening. she's super talented, check her out here: soulshine imagery, her photography business. more about that and her here soon! along with her portraits of me !!!

{this moment} - Joining Soulemama's Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

the view from here

again, amy is inspiring me to do more then just the dishes...

the forsythia came out in what seemed like an hour, i can't stop staring at it and feeling the hope it brings that spring is really coming.

or playing near it.

there's so much of it, but i like looking at it with these 2 cool rocks. i'm enjoying discovering the beautiful little places that will take their place forever in my memory next too my past homes' favorite places.

i unpacked this bowl my dad made us a long time ago, the pears looked so perfect in it. i wanted to photograph them in sunlight but by the time the sun rose two were in my belly and the symmetry just wasn't the same.

late again for using seeds. i picked up 4 basil plants that are now on the counter waiting the pots they will go in since again my garden can not be permanent. you can't see the one i've already almost killed....

my dad came to town and brought this bench he made for us.

got a fabulous invitation... check it out if you can.

Ordinary Grace a celebration of everyday beauty selected photographs by Amy Drucker www.amydrucker.com on display from April 29-June 11 NoKa and NoKa Joe's 25 Katonah Avenue, Katonah, NY 914-232-7278 www.nokajoes.com Gallery Opening, Upstairs at NoKa Friday, April 29, 7-9:30pm

this cool cat decided she was done with diapers before she was 3. did it herself, which we are pretty stoked about since the older one was dragged out of diapers 2 months after his 4th bday.

she wanted "green underpants. not light green dark green". hard to find. so i carved a turtle stamp and gave her dark green turtles. she was delighted.

settling into our new back yard.

we found some green and blue glitter paint...that was for paper.

it was everywhere....but it looked so pretty.

what's your view like?

on the 28th:::28 things

you absolutely do not need to know about me:

i see in color, pattern and shadow.

i need to stop and stare if the sun or moon is shining branches or rainbows on my wall.

i can not focus if a fluorescent bulb is buzzing. it makes me feel insanity is stalking me.

i believe coincidences are opportunities.

some of my favorite smells are: rain, wet redwood forest, ocean, peach, wet desert, gushing snow melt, yarn, chocolate, my kid's and husband's heads, hardware stores and ben and jerry's ice cream shops.

i taught myself to type when i was 21 with a space invader typing program.

i have really awesome friends.

i've lived in a car three times in my life, by choice, each time exploring the usa.

my husband is my anchor and my sail.

i think the moon is the perfect light to kayak, hike and garden by.

when i see the number 28 i know the universe wants me to pay attention.

i tell my daughter every day, "you are smart, you are strong, you are beautiful". i hope she grows up sure of it.

i think tennessee, kentucky and nebraska are more beautiful then they get credit for.

i agree with holden caufield about phonies.

i can't stand when people are in my space or i can't see the sky, but i loved spelunking.

7 is my favorite number, 9 is second.

i've peed in a cornfield in iowa, and really enjoyed it. (you're laughing, but go ahead...you will see...)

i still believe in magic and; that when said magic presents itself, i will be able to fly.

floating is my favorite thing to do in water.

i love comic book superhero movies. if batman or wolverine are involved, i'm in.

i have a crazy high tolerance for physical pain but not cruel words.

i believe love is the most important thing parents can give children. any parents.

sometimes i bite my lip till it bleeds. i'm sorry every time.

i believe birth matters. i agree, passionately, with ina may about women and i want to aid in her desire to bring truth and clarity to the birth culture in our country.

my son has my exact hair cowlicks and all, in the very same places.

i believe souls are eternal.

i desire equally: a trip to the library of congress, and a sailing/kayak adventure in the galapagos.

my 28 things were inspired by amy's 41 things, my cyber friend who makes it feel like hope and love and support are everywhere if you just look. (amy, i can't stand the smell of any perfume either, or any strong, fake scent; smelly soap is my nemesis. i still have anxiety about under the bed, hate to talk on the phone, i believe in karma... and i think you know the list could go on, and on, and on...)